A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday directed Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, the House of Assembly, and other parties involved in a lawsuit filed by the 18 suspended Local Government chairmen to maintain the status quo.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the ruling after counsel for the plaintiffs, Anderson Asemota, moved a motion ex parte seeking the court’s intervention.
Asemota, while presenting the motion, told the court that the plaintiffs, who are the local government chairmen, were suspended by the state’s House of Assembly, with their resolution later transmitted to Gov. Okpebholo. The lawyer argued that the motion sought to maintain the status quo as of Dec. 15, 2024, following a Supreme Court ruling in July 2024, which held that state governors lacked the power to suspend elected local government chairmen.
He alleged that the suspension stemmed from the chairmen’s disagreement with the governor over the operation of a joint account, contrary to the apex court’s decision. Asemota stressed that the plaintiffs had approached the court to prevent resorting to self-help in defending their constitutional rights.
“We are asking for the court to make an order of status quo as at Dec. 15, 2024, and for the governor not to act on the assembly’s resolution,” Asemota said, emphasizing the need for urgent action.
The lawyer cited key documents, including the Supreme Court judgment, an Edo State High Court order restraining the defendants from carrying out the suspension, and an interview granted by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, on the matter.
Justice Nwite, while acknowledging the need for caution, ruled that an order for parties to maintain the status quo would be issued pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The judge stated, “After listening to counsel to the applicants and reviewing the affidavit evidence, including the written address, I hereby make an order that parties should maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”
The matter was adjourned to Jan. 20, 2025, for the hearing of the substantive suit.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the 18 aggrieved LG chairmen, along with the Peoples Democratic Party, filed the ex parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1952/V/2024.
Filed on Dec. 24, 2024, the motion dated Dec. 20 sought interim injunctions against the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, the Assembly itself, the Governor of Edo State, and other defendants.
The plaintiffs requested an order directing the 1st to 5th defendants, as well as their agents, to maintain the status quo as of Dec. 15, 2024, pending the determination of the substantive suit. They also sought an injunction restraining the 3rd to 5th defendants, their agents, and privies from acting on the Assembly’s resolution suspending the plaintiffs and their deputies.
